Human interest stories in boxing are quite rare unless they stand out and are different — this one makes the cut in that regard.
There is a criminally high amount of illegal child trafficking going on in the world at the moment that unfortunately the now dying legacy media does not draw the attention to enough of.
A young man from Lagos, Nigeria, Bilal Fawaz, originally was human trafficked out of the country to the UK at a young age and at 14-years-old he found himself with no family in a foreign country in social services.
Boxing like it has done for many over the years played a part on the road towards saving him.
At 17 he took up boxing and within six months he became number one in England for the university level he was at.
He then became a national champion of England later in his 20s and represented England many times and even boxed for England against the country where he was born, Nigeria. He was called up to represent Team GP but due to paper work issues he could not compete at the time.
After representing his country with such distinction and after living in the country (UK) for over two decades (22 years) and representing the nation with distinction, he was somehow criminally turned down for citizenship by the UK government (a nation absolutely riddled with useless refugees and migrants who drain the system and contribute nothing to the country unlike English champion boxer Fawaz), and then the UK government criminally tried to deport him after that — but later released him after they realized their error.
He then got his work permit at the age of 34 and became middleweight Southern Area Champion in England.
Now Bilal Fawaz 8-1-3 KO at the age of 36 finally fights in a title eliminator in professional boxing against Ryan Amos at York Hall next month October 12th.
A good prospect who at 36 is looking to make quick progress and someone the likes of Hearn, Warren and Turki Alalshikh need to keep an eye on if he wins impressively again next month and challenges for a genuine British, European or World Title title in the near future.
